Belinda Close, mother of Danyelle Williams, sentenced in Warwick Magistrates Court for assaulting mother

The mother of a young woman who was killed in a horror car crash has faced court for assaulting her own mother, with a combination of drug use and grief blamed for the incident that took place days before her daughter’s funeral. WARNING: DISTRESSING

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.

The mother of a woman tragically killed hours before New Year’s Day has appeared in court for assaulting her own mother, in an incident fuelled by grief and drug use.

Belinda Close had been in custody for five days after being arrested on Saturday night by Warwick police officers following reports of horrific abusive conduct occurring at a Market Square address.

On January 19, police were called to a Market Square address after Close and two other people entered through an open door at the rear.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday that Close had called her mum a “c--t” and told her to die, before a family member was dragged to the ground, and punched and kicked.

During the assault Close pushed her mother, causing her to hit the ground, before throwing an object which hit her in the head.

A good Samaritan quickly arrived on the scene after being alerted by screaming, pulling the woman’s mother to safety with police responding shortly after.

This wasn’t the first time that Close had assaulted her mother at the Market Square address, with police attending the property a few months prior on November 23.

Close, who is from northern NSW, attended the residence of her mother and started “going off”, the court was told, with police observing smashed windows and items strewn across the abode.

The court was told entry was forced through a smashed window, leaving the mother “fearful”.

“Ms Close was extremely aggressive and called a friend of the family who was at the home a c--t, and that she would go and run through their house as well,” magistrate Virginia Sturgess said.

The woman screamed at her mother, calling her a “motherf----r”, and following her arrest was banned from attending the residence as a part of her bail conditions.

“Complex matter”

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman told the court the relationship between the two family members was “complex”.

Close was only in Queensland due to sorry business, despite a “severe negative relationship with her family members in the state”.

Mr Chapman told the court Close had struggled with substance abuse issues, with cannabis for a long time, but in the last year began smoking the drug ice.

The ATSILS lawyer called her relationship with her mother as “disastrous” due to abuse, and Close attending Warwick as a “matter of necessity” due to a death in the family.

“Ms Close’s daughter, Danyelle, unfortunately passed away in a car accident just before the turn of the New Year,” Mr Chapman said.

“The funeral is scheduled for next week, before returning to NSW.”

Danyelle Williams was tragically killed when the vehicle she was driving in hit a tree just hours before the end of 2023.

Danyelle Williams tragically died on New Year’s Eve, 2023.

Police confirmed earlier in the month that the vehicle had been stolen from a home on Cullen St at Warwick at 2am the previous day.

“No excuse”

On October 27, Close was busted by officers with both methamphetamine and cannabis in her system, with checks on her licence finding she was unlicensed. Police also located two glass pipes in the vehicle.

Close pleaded guilty to eight offences, including drug driving, driving unlicensed and possessing drug utensils, relating to the October 27, 2023 offences, and a contravention of a DVO charge relating to the November 23, 2023 offences.

The woman tearfully pleaded guilty to the remaining offences committed last week that included burglary, serious assault of a person over 60 (domestic violence offence), breaking a condition of bail (domestic violence offence) and breaching a DVO.

For the driving offences, Close was given a $600 fine and suspended from driving for three months.

Ms Sturgess noted Close had “substantial” history with violence, including assault occasioning bodily harm and multiple breach of domestic violence offences.

“Your poor relationship with your mother is no excuse, you’re not helping your family’s grief by behaving in such a violent manner,” she said.

“This will not be the only time you’ll spend in custody if you continue to resort to violence … If you don’t stop you’ll spend longer and longer in custody.”

The magistrate told Close that grief was clearly a significant factor in offending but her behaviour was not helping anyone in the family.

“It should be a time to come together, and support each other, rather than descending into this fighting, abuse and violence towards your family members,” Ms Sturgess said.

Close handed a head sentence of 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Utensils seized were forfeit and convictions were recorded.